Goalkeepers taking extra care as Cobblers resume full contact training

Cobblers players resumed full contact training on Thursday as their preparations for the League Two play-offs continue.

Players were only allowed to train in small, socially-distanced groups for a maximum of 75 minutes in the first part of the week but the Cobblers have now moved to the next phase to ensure they are ready in time to face Cheltenham in the semi-final first leg.

All players and staff members were given the green light to take part in training after the club returned zero positive results in the latest round of coronavirus testing. They will be tested again on Friday.

And two men taking extra care given their unique value to the team are goalkeepers Steve Arnold and David Cornell,

"It's very important they're careful," said goalkeeping coach Dan Watson. "But they've both recently had young children so they'll go straight back home when they leave training and I should think they've mastered the art of online shopping!

"But they've been careful and they've been doing the right things."

Arnold had edged ahead of Cornell in the pecking order just before the season was suspended in mid-March but after nearly three months without a game, both have returned with a clean slate.

"The two goalkeepers have both come back in great shape," added Watson. "Obviously the exercises we're doing now are more game-related so it's just about getting the timings right, getting the feet moving and getting back up to speed.

"They could do some movements at home but now we're back doing the real life stuff and both are competing for the shirt.

"That's a question for the manager - I'll just relay what's happening in training and where they're at - but they've both come back itching to play and they both look in great shape.

"I commend them for coming back in the shape they have and next week will be a high-loaded week for them and then after that we're pretty much into game prep."